Toll-like receptor 2 belongs to the TLR family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs play a fundamental role in innate immunity responses and are responsible for recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).

TLR2 heterodimerises with other TLRs (i.e. TLR1, TLR6 and TLR4) and therefore plays a role in recognition of a variety of PAMPs and DAMPs.